Tree or plant protection mat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9565809-B2
Application number	US-201214346964-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2012
Priority date	Sep 23, 2011
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

One embodiment provides a modular green roof tray, house plant growth media and horticulture growth media, and a tree protection mat for weed and moisture control made from recycled disposable diapers. The growth medium and tree protection mat contain superabsorbent materials from diaper that can absorb waters and greatly reduce irrigation so to provide a drought resistant feature. One embodiment also provides a manufacturing process to perform 100% recycling of disposed diapers.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tree or plant protection mat, comprising:
a top cover plate;
a center layer disposed beneath the top cover plate and comprising superabsorbent polymer particles;
a semipermeable bottom layer disposed beneath the center layer; and
a hole, and optionally an access slit, through the top cover plate, center layer, and bottom layer, for a tree or plant;
wherein the top cover plate is nonpermeable to water; and
wherein the semipermeable bottom layer permits water to seep out from the center layer.

2. A method for growing a tree or plant, comprising placing the mat of claim 1 around a trunk or stem of the tree or plant.

3. A method for making the mat of claim 1 , comprising sandwiching the center layer between the top cover plate and the semipermeable bottom layer, to provide the mat.

4. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the top cover plate comprises plastic film or laminate, woven material, nonwoven material, or any combination thereof.

5. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the top cover plate comprises a woven polypropylene material, woven polyethylene material, or a combination thereof.

6. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the top cover plate further comprises a hose fitting, to allow connection to a water hose.

7. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the top cover plate further comprises one or more UV resistant additive.

8. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer particles comprise polyacrylic acid polymer, polyacrylate polymer, starch-grafted polymer, polyacrylamide, ethylene maleic anhydride polymer, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, starch grafted copolymer of polyacrylonitrile, Group IA salts of polyacrylic acids, copolymer of two or more thereof, or any combination thereof.

9. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer particles are dry.

10. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the center layer further comprises one or more cellulose fibers, polyester fibers, polyolefin fibers, controlled-release fertilizer, or any combination thereof.

11. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the semipermeable bottom layer comprises woven or nonwoven fabric, natural or synthetic fiber, rayon, nylon, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, cotton, acrylic, or any combination thereof.

12. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the semipermeable bottom layer comprises nonwoven polyethylene fabric, nonwoven polypropylene fabric, or a combination thereof.

13. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the top cover plate, center layer, and semipermeable bottom layer are sealed at a perimeter edge of the mat by sewing, gluing, heat sealing, or any combination thereof.

14. The mat of claim 1 , wherein the top cover plate and semipermeable bottom layer are sealed at a perimeter edge of the mat, to sandwich the central layer.

15. The mat of claim 1 , further comprising a sidewall, extending around a perimeter of the mat, and connecting the top cover plate to the semipermeable layer.

16. A tree or plant protection mat, comprising:
a top cover plate;
a center layer disposed beneath the top cover plate and comprising superabsorbent polymer particles;
a semipermeable bottom layer disposed beneath the center layer; and
a hole, and optionally an access slit, through the top cover plate, center layer, and bottom layer, for a tree or plant;
wherein the top cover plate prevents evaporative water loss from the center layer; and
wherein the semipermeable bottom layer permits water to seep out from the center layer.

17. A method for growing a tree or plant, comprising placing the mat of claim 16 around a trunk or stem of the tree or plant.

18. A method for making the mat of claim 16 , comprising sandwiching the center layer between the top cover plate and the semipermeable bottom layer, to provide the mat.

19. The mat of claim 16 , wherein the top cover plate comprises plastic film or laminate, woven material, nonwoven material, or any combination thereof.

20. The mat of claim 16 , wherein the top cover plate comprises a woven polypropylene material, woven polyethylene material, or a combination thereof.

21. The mat of claim 16 , wherein the top cover plate further comprises a hose fitting, to allow connection to a water hose.

22. The mat of claim 16 , wherein the top cover plate further comprises one or more UV resistant additive.

23. The mat of claim 16 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer particles comprise polyacrylic acid polymer, polyacrylate polymer, starch-grafted polymer, polyacrylamide, ethylene maleic anhydride polymer, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, starch grafted copolymer of polyacrylonitrile, Group IA salts of polyacrylic acids, copolymer of two or more thereof, or any combination thereof.

24. The mat of claim 16 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer particles are dry.

25. The mat of claim 16 , wherein the center layer further comprises one or more cellulose fibers, polyester fibers, polyolefin fibers, controlled-release fertilizer, or any combination thereof.

26. The mat of claim 16 , wherein the semipermeable bottom layer comprises woven or nonwoven fabric, natural or synthetic fiber, rayon, nylon, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, cotton, acrylic, or any combination thereof.

27. The mat of claim 16 , wherein the semipermeable bottom layer comprises nonwoven polyethylene fabric, nonwoven polypropylene fabric, or a combination thereof.

28. The mat of claim 16 , wherein the top cover plate, center layer, and semipermeable bottom layer are sealed at a perimeter edge of the mat by sewing, gluing, heat sealing, or any combination thereof.

29. The mat of claim 16 , wherein the top cover plate and semipermeable bottom layer are sealed at a perimeter edge of the mat, to sandwich the central layer.

30. The mat of claim 16 , further comprising a sidewall, extending around a perimeter of the mat, and connecting the top cover plate to the semipermeable layer.

Assignees

• Zhang Wei
• Yang Hailing
• Zynnovation Llc

Inventors

• Zhang Wei
• Yang Hailing

Classifications

• Y02P20/143

  the feedstock being recycled material, e.g. plastics · CPC title

• A61L11/00

  Methods specially adapted for refuse {(disintegrating medical waste B02C19/0075; disposal of medical waste B09B3/00)} · CPC title

• Y02P20/145

  the feedstock being materials of biological origin · CPC title

• C05F3/04

  from human faecal masses · CPC title

• Y02A30/254

  Roof garden systems; Roof coverings with high solar reflectance · CPC title